Leduc looking for big strides to AHL, Sound Tigers

Published 6:42 pm, Saturday, October 3, 2015

Photo: Tom Mihalek / Associated Press

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Defenseman Loic Leduc skates for the New York Islanders in a preseason NHL hockey game Sept. 25 in Philadelphia. Leduc is working to step up from the ECHL to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Defenseman Loic Leduc skates for the New York Islanders in a preseason NHL hockey game Sept. 25 in Philadelphia. Leduc is working to step up from the ECHL to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

The right-handed defenseman, in his second pro season, is part of a group of youngsters competing for spots and playing time with the Sound Tigers.

He could've played an overage season in junior hockey back home in Quebec last season, but instead he played 55 ECHL games, split between Stockton and Colorado, then playing four playoff games for Colorado. Competing against older players was better for him.

And he got his first taste of the AHL when the Sound Tigers called him up for 18 days in January. He didn't play in that period, but practice was helpful.

"It was a great experience. I put the work in in the ECHL," Leduc said. "When I got the call up, it was really exciting. I didn't get to enjoy a game, but just to be up there, that they think of me, it was good for my confidence."

At 6-foot-7 and 219 pounds, he'd bring ample size, not to mention a long reach.

"His big asset is going to be his stick," Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said. "He can use his stick as a piece to defend.

"I think the big thing coming from the Coast to the American League is going to be the pace for him," Thompson added. "Fortunately he got to play down there as part of a good organization in Colorado. He played in the playoffs."

The question about most big men often comes back to mobility. It's something Leduc has worked hard on, and facing ECHL competition helped, he said.

"I think he (generally) has really, really improved over last year, even from prospect camp in the summer," Thompson said.

It looked in Saturday's practice as if Leduc was set to play Sunday in the last exhibition game, in Cromwell against Hartford.

Leduc was paired with Matt Finn. They were together in an NHL exhibition game last week in Philadelphia.

Hartford let go two locals from tryouts after Thursday's game in Bridgeport. Alex Vazzano of Trumbull was sent to Greenville (ECHL), while Luke Curadi, former Notre Dame-West Haven defenseman, was released.